Monday, 2 January 2017

3 Ways to Cultivate Gratitude and Boost Your Happiness


“Gratitude can turn common days into thanksgivings, turn routine jobs into joy, and change ordinary opportunities into blessings.” ~William Arthur Ward
Living in India for more than two years now has been an eye opening experience for me, as I’ve realized how I used to take so many things for granted. While growing up and living in my home country (Bosnia and Herzegovina) in Europe, I was lacking gratitude for all the blessings that surrounded me.
While sitting in our penthouse apartment in the New Delhi suburbs, in an air-conditioned room, still feeling the need to chill with a cool water or a mango shake due to the intense heat (which can reach up to 118° in the summer), I could observe the construction ground across from our building.
Constructions workers would come in at 9am and work for twelve hours, with only a short lunch break, without proper safety equipment, chilled water, or any shaded cover to rest.
While they’d wipe sweat from their face, I’d imagine how hot they must be feeling, as I was sweating even in an air-conditioned room.

Some of them were working together with their wives, who would help them earn their daily wage (equal to $1).
These women would carry piles of cement and bricks on big pots on their head, from one side of the construction site to another, sometimes climbing many stairs as well. In my home country, I never saw women working on construction grounds or carrying such heavy loads on their heads.
Their children would play in front of the construction ground with sand and small rocks, as their parents could not afford to send them to school.
I thought about how, in my home country, children often complain that they “have to” go to school and people complain about how tough their jobs are. These people in New Delhi could not even dream of sending their children to school or having an eight-hour job in an air-conditioned office.
The wives who didn’t work on the construction ground would work in our building as maids. One of them cleaned our home. Every day she came in with a water bottle, which she’d cool in our refrigerator, as they did not have an electricity, not to mention a refrigerator, in the slum where she lived with her family.
After cleaning our home, she’d run back to hers with a chilled water bottle in her hands, almost losing her breath, as if she was afraid the heat might warm that water before she would return. Then she wouldn’t be able to cool her small children, who were waiting in the heat in a slum without a fan.

Since that day, I never look at the ice cubes in my drink the same way I once did. Ice cubes were just pieces of frozen water, until I saw that for some people, even chilled water is a luxury! Ice cubes are a symbol of wealth and abundance to me now.
I suddenly became grateful for all the things I am blessed with in my life, even the small things, like ice cubes, chilled water, nutritious food, a fan, an air-conditioner, mosquito repellent in the night, clean running water in my home, electricity—not to mention the “big” things, like an opportunity to get educated, to grow up in a beautiful home, which was warm in winters and cool in summers, my job, the power to choose my own husband.
I never thought I should be grateful for choosing my husband. Yet, in a place where arranged marriages are still tradition, I realized that it was a blessing that I was born and raised in an environment where I could fall in love with a man and choose to marry him.
Although arranged marriages do work here, and I see people fall in love after marriage, or at least create a relationship based on kindness, mutual respect, and care, I feel so grateful every day that I had a chance to choose the man I thought was the right for me, with my parents’ blessing and best wishes.
We often take the things we have for granted, yet in many other parts of the world, there are people who would feel blessed and happy if they could enjoy them on a daily basis.
If we just take a look around us we could find so many things to be grateful for.
Some of the practices that can help us to cultivate the feeling of gratitude in our life include:

1. Gratitude journaling.


Keeping a gratitude journal, where we note all the things (or at least three things) we feel grateful for every day, can be a powerful reminder of how blessed we are.
Noting down even simple things—like a delicious dinner we enjoyed, a warm home, a cup of tea or coffee, time spent with our beloved—can be a powerful practice to keep us grounded in a positive mindset on a daily basis.

2. Creating a list of possibilities and blessings.


It helps to write a list of all the things we are blessed with, things we usually see as givens, that in other parts of the world are not available to many people.
So many women around the world still do not have the right or the opportunity to get educated, and so many children cannot attend school or University due to lack of financial resources. According to WHO, 12.9 percent of the world’s population (over 1 billion people) is undernourished and will probably go to bed hungry tonight.
Millions of people around the world do not have an access to clean, running water and electricity, which in Western countries we usually take for granted.
Having a roof over our head, a warm room, a meal on our plate, a degree or opportunity to go to University, electricity lighting our home, and cool water in summers are all big reasons we can feel grateful every single day.

3. Shifting our perception.


Instead of feeling sad and frustrated about being single, we can look at this same circumstance from another perspective—as the freedom to be able to choose our partner and wait until we find the right one. This simple shift can help us move from a negative emotional state to a state of gratitude.
In the same way, we can shift our perception of looking at other things, like the job that we don’t like or our living conditions.
When we catch ourselves complaining about housework, we can see it as a blessing that we have our own home and, as a result, clean it with gratitude.
Instead of feeling annoyed that we have to cook dinner, we can feel grateful that we’re able to afford groceries. We can also consider it a blessing that, in this modern era, we do not need to manually wash our dishes or clothes.
When we catch ourselves complaining about the job we hate or feel bored with, we can feel grateful that we have a job and regular income that can pay our bills.
We can also be grateful for small things, like air conditioning in our office, having weekends off, or the fact that we don’t need to be exposed to harsh weather conditions or safety threats every day, like so many people in other corners in the world.
There’s nothing wrong with trying to achieve more and move ahead in life, but we can never be truly happy if we do not appreciate what we already have.

Good Posture Matters More Than You Think


When you were growing up, your parents or teachers probably told you to sit and stand straight, instead of slouching your back and shoulders. They themselves may not have exactly known why that was important, it just seemed that way. But more recent science has found that they were actually right in many more ways than they imagined. As it turns out, good posture enhances physical fitness, helps reduce stress, and contributes to healthy aging.

That good posture plays a role in health and fitness should come as no surprise. Only when the body is properly aligned, the supporting ligaments, tendons and muscles can function at their best. Sitting or standing hunched over for hours — as many of us do at work and other activities — can lead to chronic pain and permanently debilitating damage. By contrast, good posture can help prevent such wear and tear and maintain greater flexibility and strength.

Research suggests that good posture can also foster people’s psychological well-being. One study from the University of Auckland, New Zealand, found that the way people conducted themselves physically did indeed influence their self-esteem and how they were able to cope with stress and problem solving. As tests showed, sitting or standing upright helped participants feel more powerful and competent when facing a number of challenging tasks they were assigned to. In other words, bodily experiences can significantly affect cognitive and emotional states as well, the researchers concluded.
“A positive attitude and outlook on life can also do some good, particularly when it shows on the outside.”
The issue becomes ever more pressing with age. A study from Japan discovered connections between good posture and the risk of future disability. Participants who sat, stood and walked even only slightly bent forward in their mid-life years developed greater physical limitations than their counterparts who generally maintained an upright posture. The differences became ever more pronounced as they got older, and were eventually quite significant in terms of their overall health status.

There is also a social dimension to the way we present ourselves physically, especially in our later years. As surveys have shown, old age is commonly associated with physical deterioration and visa versa. Many seniors feel left behind and isolated from society, in part because of actual physical (and perhaps mental) shortcomings, but also based on false assumptions that they no longer can keep up. However, while some slowing down may be an inevitable part of nature, there is no need to accept premature degeneration and decline.

And there is much that can be done to counteract those processes. For example, stretching, yoga and other exercises that promote flexibility can do wonders for an aging body. So can brisk walking, keeping a good stride, moving with ease and confidence — all of which are signs of good health and vitality. A positive attitude and outlook on life can also do some good, particularly when it shows on the outside.

5 Really Great Reasons Why Good Posture Is Super Important


So it turns out, your mother was right after all: Good posture really matters ― even in your older years.
Slouching impacts you in ways you wouldn’t have imagined, says Dr. Charles Wang, the COO and co-founder of Lumo Bodytech, a company that has brought tech to the quest for good posture. The Lumo Lift gives you a vibrating reminder when you start to slouch. Kind of like Mom, but in the form of a wearable device.
Wang helped us compile this list of five reasons why good posture matters.

1. Bad posture can adversely impact your sex life.


Research shows that slouching ― the opposite of “power posing,” meaning standing up tall and straight ― results in low energy and low self-esteem. Standing straight up with your shoulders back and neck aligned with the rest of your spine is considered a “power pose” that can boost your energy and confidence levels. By regularly practicing good posture, you’ll feel more confident and energized in and out of the bedroom.

2.  Slouching makes you look older.


If you’ve spent years sitting at a desk, hunched over a computer, you may be more likely to develop that unnatural hump in your neck or back resulting from “text neck.” For women, the forward slouching motion and rounding of the shoulders can cause breast sagging. To avoid your slouching from developing into skeletal or spinal issues, stay mindful of your posture in any position you’re in, whether you’re seated, standing, or walking, said Wang.

3. Bad posture can damage your back.


Yes, of course you knew that. Did you know that back pain is the second most common reason people visit the doctor every year, and poor posture is directly correlated to the increase in back pain in people who spend a great deal of their time sitting. Lumo Bodytech’s posture database research found that during an average workday, people spend as much as 38 minutes per hour slouching.

4. Poor posture can cause irregular bowel movements.


We kid you not. It’s not just your back that will feel the affects of your slouching ― your intestines will take a hit, too. Having good posture means your stomach and intestines can easily push food through ― but poor posture can cause your gastrointestinal system to lock up or function poorly. Research has also shown that people with Irritable Bowel Syndrome who suffer from bloating and gas can ease their symptoms by standing up straight.

5. Bad posture makes you more selfish.


Research shows that sitting upright helps reduce self-focus, allowing you to tune in more on the needs and emotions of the people around you.

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Ergonomic Tips For Desk Work


There are dangers in everyday life, from slipping in the shower to getting side swiped by the guy texting in the car next to you on Woodruff Road.  The risk doesn’t end once we are safely behind our desks, because… sitting is killing us!  Workplace ergonomics often are the reason for many aches and pains.

Ergonomic Tips Simplified


Seriously, while not really trying to commit murder, our computer, desk, office chair and keyboard are not our friends. We spend hours each day sitting, typing, staring at the computer screen, and this inactivity is wreaking havoc on our health in a variety of ways.  This article will focus on simple ergonomic tips to help avoid feeling worse at the end of the work day.

First, most of us sit incorrectly


The first of my ergonomic tips is simply concerned with how we sit.  Goldilocks knew what she was doing when it came to carefully selecting the right chair. Most of us cause excess stress and pressure on our neck, shoulders, and back from the way we sit in our inadequate office chairs.
According to OSHA, a person who spends time at their computer needs to choose an adjustable chair that supports the back, buttocks, legs and arms. Be mindful of your posture throughout the day as well. An ergonomically adjusted chair minimizes the occurrences of awkward, strained positions that frequently cause injury.
Along with the way we sit, our office jobs are killing us because…

We have our desks laid out wrong


Even with a great chair, a desk that is the wrong height can cause a person to repetitively move and bend awkwardly during the day and injure themselves. Anyone who sits behind a desk needs to make certain it is the right height to comfortably reach the computer keyboard and all pertinent supplies are within a comfortable reach. Add a foot rest to decrease the stress on the lower back. Ergonomically positioning a desk offers greater comfort and less stress on a person’s body.

We also type wrong


Using the keyboard incorrectly can cause a ton of painful medical conditions from neck and back issues to carpal tunnel syndrome. The keyboard should sit at elbow height. Reduce the strain on your hands by keeping them in as natural a position as possible, holding your wrists up even with the backs of your hands. Avoid banging the keys by typing softly, which alleviates the stress on your fingers.
A computer mouse should be situated close to the keyboard, and it’s essential to keep the hand in a neutral position when using it. Avoid resting your hand on the mouse for an extended period of time.

Not taking breaks


According to the Mayo Clinic, sitting for long periods of time is linked to a variety of serious medical conditions from obesity to high blood sugar and cholesterol levels. Sitting in the same position for hours can put pressure on and result in back and neck pain.
Break up sitting every 30 minutes by standing and walking around and stretching if possible. Even standing for a couple of minutes at a time lessens the impact of a sedentary job.
In addition to taking the initiative to build an ergonomic office space, choosing to participate in chiropractic care is a great way to help eliminate pain from back, shoulder, and neck strain. Chiropractic treatment involves adjusting the spine, along with other techniques, offering better alignment in particular and a stronger, healthier body in general. A long-term benefit of chiropractic care is a body that enjoys greater mobility and fewer aches and pains.

An ergonomic office setup is critical in maintaining good posture that minimizes strain and repetitive motion injuries. By investing in ergonomically tailored furniture and setting it up to suit your specific needs, you will lessen the harm an office job does to your body.

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FIVE WAYS TO IMPROVE YOUR POSTURE


First we were fish, and we swam. Then we were monkeys, and we swung. Eventually, we evolved into fully upright Homo erectus, and we strode. And then Bill Gates invented the personal computer.
In 2012, after years hunched over emails, often with a phone wedged betwixt ear and shoulder, we’ve now devolved into a race of slouching Neanderthals. Over two thirds of the British population have suffered back pain at some point in their lives, according to the latest research from the British Chiropractic Association (BCA).
And that pain in the neck is far more than just, er, a pain in the neck. Researchers at the University of Leeds found that, due to interfering with signals between your neck muscles and your brain, poor posture increases your blood pressure, heightening your risk of heart disease. Here, MH shows you how to beat the slump.

1. Get the man in the mirror to change his ways


Diagnosis is the first step towards cure. Next time you find yourself staring at your reflection (beguiled by that chiselled jaw again, no doubt) drop your eyes down. “Check your shoulders are level and your head is not tilted to one side or your chin sticking out excessively,” says Olympic physiotherapist Darryl Reid.
For every inch your head moves forwards, 10 pounds of extra strain is placed on your upper back and neck muscles, according to Dr A. I. Kapandji, author of Physiology of the Joints. Close your eyes, set your body straight and open them again. “Pay attention to how your body feels in that position and make a mental note of it.” Use a mirror to check whether your chin is sticking out, your shoulders are hunched or your gait is lop-sided when walking, too.
Fix it: Suspected posture problems identified by eye can be confirmed – and temporarily alleviated – using Kinesio tape. Wear it under your clothes – in an ‘X’ shape running from each shoulder halfway down the back towards the opposite hip, with a horizontal strip connecting the top of the ‘X’ – and it will hold your muscles in the correct posture for up to 48 hours. If you’re still experiencing pain, posture isn’t your problem, and it’s worth going to see a GP.

2. Walk it off


Humans are active creatures. Our bodies are not designed to sit for hours on end. Nonetheless, around a third of the UK population spends over 10 hours a day sitting down, according to the BCA, and even desk-jockeys using one of the best ergonomic chairs aren’t immune to the posture problems inherent to a sedentary career.
Fix it: Stand up and walk away from your desk at least every 20-30 minutes, advises Reid. “Standing and walking helps to decrease stress on the discs and joints that dictate your posture.” Get more from your dawdle by making a phone call you’ve been putting off. Walking and talking cuts call times by up to 50%, as you get to the point faster, says Allen Elkin, author of Stress Management for Dummies.

3. Take the weight off your shoulders


Peering in disbelief at yet another unreasonable electronic missive from the boss isn’t just bad news for your stress levels. “It could result in a severe kyphosis,” says physical conditioning specialist Jan Keller – an emphasised curvature of the upper spine which makes you resemble a certain famed denizen of Notre Dame. Weak shoulder blades and stabilising muscles are a contributory cause.
Fix it: Looming over your workstation shortens and tightens the muscles in your back, which need to be long to prevent you rounding forwards. “A simple scapula retraction exercise will help lengthen these muscles and strengthen the weaker muscles,” says Keller.
Sitting at your desk, rest your arms by your side. Relax your neck and imagine you have a pencil between your shoulder blades. Pull your shoulder blades together and downwards, squeezing the imaginary pencil. Hold the contraction for 5 seconds. Do 10-15 reps three times a day.

4. Rearguard action


If your derriere is parked in an office chair from dawn ‘til dusk, make sure you schedule some time to work it. Strong glutes can be the difference between a healthy back and lordosis – curvature of the spine. “Strengthening your glutes helps pull your hips back into neutral alignment,” says Keller. Which safeguards your back against both injury and agony.
Fix it: Bookend your day with hip bridges. Lying on your back, rest your heels on a step with your knees bent at a 90-degree angle to your body in line with your hips. Fold your arms across your chest. Push down through your heels and lift your pelvis up to the ceiling. Once in full extension, squeeze your glutes and hold the contraction for 2-3 seconds. Then release the tension in the glutes and lower your pelvis back down to the floor. Do 12-15 reps twice a day.

5. Keep rollin’ rollin’ rollin’


Keeping your back and neck on the up and up requires your muscles to be in a relaxed state as much as possible. Taxing workouts, therefore, can be bad news for your posture even as they fortify the rest of your body.
Fix it: Foam rollers are designed to iron out tension, relax your muscles and improve your workout. Simply place one on the floor and support yourself with your hands as you roll your body back and forth over the foam, concentrating on your most tense areas.

Simple Ways To Look After Your Posture At Work


You’ve probably read by now that sitting is the new smoking, meaning it’s really quite bad for our health. In fact, a study found that for every hour of seated TV watching we enjoy, we cut about 22 minutes from our life span.
Even if you’re not a couch potato, you might still work in an office and sit at a desk for eight (10, 12?) hours a day. One option would be to quit and get a retail or hospitality gig, though really, that’s not very practical.
Instead, we’ve asked a pro to help us better your posture at work.
“Posture at a desk is critical, especially with the lengthy hours most of us spend at work these days,” Chiropractor Dr. Rick Schlederer told The Huffington Post Australia.
“A stand-up desk is a good option if it’s available, but there are a few other ways to avoid the “slumping forward” posture most people inevitably lapse into.”
First, Schlederer suggests we get moving, much much more than most of us currently are.
Move around off your chair every 30 minutes at least, though ideally every 15-20 minutes if practical. Try getting up and grabbing a glass of water or walking for a couple of minutes in that time. Set your alarm on your phone or desk to remind you that it’s get up and walk around time.”
“Second, focus on bringing your head back to sit over your shoulders, not bringing your shoulders forward to meet your head position. The effect of having your head drop too far forward is scientifically proven to increase it’s weight load on your shoulder and neck muscles by around seven times or more. For example, if you hold a heavy object in your arms out in front of you with your arms straight it is a lot heavier and tiresome than it is when you hold the same object right up against your body,” Dr. Schlederer said.
It’s also important to stretch in your chair. Not just once a day, but regularly.
“Stretch your arms up and invert your palms skyward as you tilt your head back to look up to the ceiling, and hold for 10 to 20 seconds. Repeat this regularly. The goal is to imagine a piece of wire or string is attached to the crown of your head and is being pulled directly up, giving the nice tall posture that engages all the right core muscles and takes load off the smaller accessory muscles in your neck and shoulders.”
“If needed, start with a small rolled-up towel behind the small of your lower back to get the feel for what the right posture might be. As with anything if there is any pain or discomfort, seek advice from your Chiropractor or health practitioner,” Dr Schlederer said.
When sitting at your desk make sure your computer is at the right height. And uncross your legs. Right now.
“Monitor height should always aim to have the eye line of the person with the center of the screen, as well as having the screen directly in front of the person, not off to the side. In cases where multiple screens are used, make sure you turn your body to be square onto the screen being used. Place some books or the like under the monitor if needed to raise the monitor to the ideal height,” Dr. Schlederer said.
“Feet should not be crossed as it promotes pelvic rotation and switches off key postural muscles. Crossed feet usually indicates that the person might have pelvic rotation issues, as it’s very common for feet to be only crossed one way — usually if attempted the other way it feels ‘weird’ for the person. Feet should be comfortably flat on the ground or if needed a slightly angled feet support to help keep the thighs and lowers legs relaxed.”
Next up it’s time to take a look at your trusty office chair.
“Some people really like chairs with arm rests, but really the arm rests promote slumping off to one side and uneven posture. So ideally, no arm rests.”
“Others also benefit from kneeling chairs where you place most of your weight through your thighs and knees via the supports. Realistically any chair that doesn’t have arm rests, can adjust in height and has enough support for the buttocks will work, especially if you have applied the other tips indicated earlier. Swiss balls or the equivalent have been popular also as they promote people holding good posture otherwise they fall off,” Dr. Schlederer said.
As for other stretching, its all about the head and neck to relieve stress on the back.
“The best stretches and movements that one can do at work is to do single plane movements of the neck. Never roll your neck in a circular motion as this can be damaging.”
“Basically turn your head slowly (to the count of 3-5 seconds) from side to side, then tilt your head to each side and flex and extend the neck a few times in each position though the best stretch really to tilt your head back and let it reverse what it’s been doing for hours and let it relax while looking up at the sky. Hold for a minute if you can,” Dr. Schlederer said.
The other really important stretches are for the hips and glutes.
“While you push your chair back from desk a bit to give room, lift one leg across the other while interlocking your fingers over the top of the knees. While you bring the knee across to the opposite shoulder direction, make sure you don’t slump your shoulders forward. You should feel a good stretch in the gluteals or buttocks which can really take the fatigue out of your legs and back while helping maintain good posture,” Dr. Schlederer said.
Another thing to consider is how much you look down at our mobile phone. We’re willing bet it’s a lot — think about your commute, sitting on the couch and even on the toilet. Don’t lie, we know you do it.
“This is really becoming an epidemic and it’s not only sad but distressing to see how much this is changing the shape and function of people’s neck’s and spines, not to mention the lack of personal engagement people are missing by not even making eye contact anymore.”
“Kids at very young ages now are getting very bad habits looking down at screens for long periods. The impact on posture is dramatic. Losing the Cervical lordosis (“C” shape) in your neck has significant impact on people’s health, including possible symptoms of headaches, muscle strains, and osteoarthritis of the spine over long periods,” Dr Schlederer said.
The take home? Sitting for ages fatigues the body and therefore your energy levels.
“Sitting for long periods of time puts more load on the lower back intervertebral discs than when you stand or lie down. Poor posture fatigues the muscles more which in turn fatigues the body, so focus levels and productivity can be adversely affected.”
“If you want the most out yourself, your family or your workers, the best thing to do is to address these postural issues, spend less time on the phone, move your body more and get any postural misalignments checked and adjusted by your Chiropractor or preferred health practitioner,” Dr. Schlederer said.

How to Promote Yourself Authentically to Gain New Opportunities


“If you really put a small value upon yourself, rest assured that the world will not raise your price.” ~Unknown
I have always been a smart, dedicated, hard working person. I was raised to believe that those were characteristics required for success. So imagine my surprise to reach the working world and find unexceptional colleagues getting promoted above me.
There’s one memory that particularly stands out.
When I was twenty-five, I was on a team that consisted of amazingly smart, ambitious, hardworking people, plus one mediocre guy, Tom. His mediocrity stood out amongst a high-achieving team, but Tom thought he was a rock star.
Infuriatingly, all the right people noticed Tom. And they didn’t notice me.
In hindsight, the biggest difference between Tom and I was our mindset around self-promotion. We were both ambitious, but he was willing to push for it. Meanwhile, I was waiting patiently for my turn.
I couldn’t get past the idea that self-promotion was sleazy, manipulative, or desperate, so I refused to do it. I didn’t go into a meeting with sweaty palms ready to ask for the promotion that I wanted. I just did nothing.
I waited and hoped that someone would notice how hardworking and deserving I was. But it never happened. I lost out on opportunities that would’ve helped me make a bigger difference and feel more fulfilled in my work because I refused to raise my hand.
Now, I’ve built my career on my skill for authentic self-promotion and have found tactics to promote myself in ways that feel in perfect alignment with who I am. These are the things I’ve learned along the way. I hope these work for you, whether you work for yourself or have a traditional job.

1. Find a role model for authentic self-promotion.


You can probably picture the kind of person that you don’t want to be when you’re promoting yourself. But do you know whom you do want to model your self-promotional behaviors after?
Look out for examples of people that promote themselves with honesty, integrity, and personality.
One of my role models once told me a story about going to a networking dinner and being pestered by someone who wanted her to quit her job and come join his company.
When her boss asked how the networking event was, she said: “It went well. I got offered three jobs. Actually, I got offered the same job three times. See how in-demand I am?”
She told me that it felt like a light-hearted way for her to tell him that she’s highly sought after. It both matched her cheeky personality and how they usually interacted with each other every day. If she tried to do it any other way, it would have seemed awkward and insincere.
Your mindset around self-promotion will dramatically change once you start looking for positive examples of people who practice authentic self-promotion. You’ll be surprised how many role models you can find.

2. Remind yourself how self-promotion can help you make a difference.


Self-promotion has a bad reputation for being egotistical. But it’s only egotistical if you’re solely focused on what it can do for you. Try focusing on how it allows you to help more people.
How many more people will you be able to help if you promote yourself and more people discover your work?
How will landing this new job or client help you make a bigger contribution to the project?
Getting the job or landing the client gives you the opportunity to change their lives or business for the better.
Thinking about how your work makes a difference takes the focus off you so that you feel less egotistical and reminds you that your work (no matter how menial you may think it is) helps others.

3. Realize that no one else is paying as much attention as you are.


In the past, I believed that if I truly deserved that new opportunity, then the people in charge would have already offered it to me. But that’s rarely true.
They have a lot on their to-do list and it’s easy for them to forget everything that you do. That’s why you need to regularly remind them, whether it’s a boss or a client.
All it takes is getting into the habit of a quick knock on the door to say, “I just wrapped up that project and wanted to let you know about the great feedback we’ve had so far.” It can be casual, honest, and low pressure. Don’t be afraid to let them see how valuable you are.

4. Ask yourself how satisfied you are with your work right now.


Feeling the need to raise your hand for new opportunities is a sign that there’s something missing from your current work. By raising your hand and advocating for yourself, you have an opportunity to find greater fulfillment in your career with minimal effort.
Ask yourself: what kind of projects would bring me more job satisfaction? Then, proactively ask for those projects.
Employers love it when their employees are engaged and fulfilled by their work, so there’s a good chance they’ll want to hear what you have to say. It’s helpful to you and it’s helpful to them.

5. Approach it like an equal.


I noticed that one thing that I disliked about self-promotion was feeling like I was asking for more than I was offering. It dramatically lowered my confidence and triggered the quivering, insecure voice that’s a dead giveaway that I’m nervous and unsure.
Now, before I even start on the path toward authentic self-promotion, I get clear on what I want and what I will bring to the table that is of equal or greater value than what I’m asking for.
It removes the feeling of powerlessness and helps give me confidence that I’m making a difference with my contribution. Even better, it means that I can easily explain how I’ll make a positive impact for my boss or client.

6. Notice what your fear of self-promotion is masking.


Your fear of self-promotion masks something much bigger. It could be fear of success, failure, judgment, or not being good enough. You’re not afraid of self-promotion itself; you’re actually afraid that if you promote yourself and it doesn’t go well, it’ll prove that your real fear is true.
For me, I’m usually afraid that I’m not good enough to get that big project or land that new client. If I raise my hand, promote myself and get rejected, it can feel like evidence that proves my fear—I truly wasn’t good enough.
What is the underlying fear for you? Where does that come from? When you dig deep into what the fear truly is, you can start to question its validity and build your personal growth muscles.